I find it to be an Adequate Side Burn. That said, Hasbro feels to have compromised more in this entry than we’ve seen in many other recent figures (as it comes to mainline releases). And I have to say…I don’t really get why. I mean, sure, there’s probably budgetary or timing issues at play…but the figure and the two characters that sprung from it feel…rushed. Or a lesser priority. To me, there isn’t much they needed to do to bump this figure up to “Decent”- retool the front to be more rounded and add the white lining to the flames. Given the extremes we’ve seen from “retooling” for other figures, that doesn’t feel like a big ask in this situation.
I think it largely comes down to why they bothered with a “Cyberverse” iteration of Shadow Striker to begin with. It is obvious Side Burn was the “primary” design foundation for much of the figure, which means it was NEVER going to be a good version of Cyberverse Shadow Striker from the start. Nor did they really NEED another Cyberverse representation with Windblade and Chromia already on the docket. It might have been more prudent to do a good Side Burn, and build some version of Shadow Striker from that. Maybe the Cyberverse head with the Legion deco and chuck her into either the Comic Universe or Extended Universe.
